Month: November 2021

O God, the days are surely coming when all your promises will be fulfilled to your faithful children. We thank you for your faithfulness to us throughout all generations. We pray for the church. May we listen deeply for your voice. Grace us with discerning minds and willing spirits as we join with you to further your mission and discern your path forward for us. Strengthen us to be your hands, and feet and hearts and to know you and your ways more fully.  

As the pandemic continues, we pray for the grace for the challenging road yet to journey. We pray for the sick, health care providers feeling the strain of overwork, scientists, and governments making hard decisions. Calm our fears… Gentle our worries. Thank you that you are always with us and will never forsake us.    

In your time, O Lord, a righteous branch sprang up and you brought justice and righteousness in every land. We pray for our nation, and all nations, that your peace would be manifest in every corner of the earth, that justice would rule.   

In your Kingdom, O Lord, you bring your people safety and comfort. We pray your healing grace for the sick, the suffering, the wounded, and those in distress of any kind including those whom we name before you now……………..

Comfort all who grieve, we pray. When Christmas cheer abounds, help us be mindful of those who are struggling during this season.    

O God, your great works of redemption, span the ages. We also pray for those who rejoice this week. Thank you for answered prayer and open doors. May each who rejoices be filled with joy and gladness.

            We also pray for our households of faith: May your joy and peace fill each heart.

In the fullness of time, O God, you sent your Son, to be born of  Mary. And his name was Emmanuel: God With Us. We thank you for your Presence with us, and we pray that you might be always present with those whom we love, our communities and beyond.  

 Come among us O God, and hear our prayers; so that when your Son Jesus comes among riding on a cloud and with great power and might, we might come to adore him. Amen.

Good morning!
As we anticipate our Advent journey toward Bethlehem and the stable, we strive to deepen our capacity to listen for God.
Our journey through pandemic has been disorienting, unsettled. Many unknowns mark each step we take.
During Friday Prayer these next weeks we will be praying with the ancient prophet Isaiah’s words as recorded in Isaiah 9: 1-7.
Drawing upon the practice of lectio divina we approach Scripture, with anticipation that God will speak to us.
We hear the text read aloud, letting it soak in as we take time for silent reflection.
The text is read a second time aloud. This time we are attentive to a word that may stand out, perhaps a phrase, an image or a question.
Following a time of silent listening we share with one another that which we have heard.
Lectio divina is a life-giving spiritual practice. All are invited to join in from 11:30 – noon.

Isaiah 9: 1-7

But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
The people who walked in darkness
have seen a great light;
those who lived in a land of deep darkness—
on them light has shined.
You have multiplied the nation,
you have increased its joy;
they rejoice before you
as with joy at the harvest,
as people exult when dividing plunder.
For the yoke of their burden,
and the bar across their shoulders,
the rod of their oppressor,
you have broken as on the day of Midian.
For all the boots of the tramping warriors
and all the garments rolled in blood
shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
For a child has been born for us,
a son given to us;
authority rests upon his shoulders;
and he is named
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
His authority shall grow continually,
and there shall be endless peace
for the throne of David and his kingdom.
He will establish and uphold it
with justice and with righteousness
from this time onwards and for evermore.
The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

May God’s Spirit bless us in our Advent journey,

Pastor Kara

Eternal God, you are our God and we are your people.
You have claimed us as your own and have placed a seal on our hearts.

You nurture and sustain us in the garden of life.

Living God, we thank you for your gift of life eternal

and for all those who, having served you well,

now rest from their labours.

Today we give thanks for those who during the last twelve months

have died and entered into glory

and those whom we hold in our hearts.

We thank you for their life and love,

and rejoice for them “all is well,

and all manner of things will be well.”

Be near to those who are grieving. Hold them.

Fill them with your comfort and peace.

Compassionate God, you attend to the wounded places of our hearts and lives,

You grieve with us in our losses, our fears.
You journey with us in our celebrations, our sorrows

You are close even in the mundane routines of our days.
You delight in us, and you love us.

We pray for your healing grace to be with those whom we hold in our hearts…….

We also pray for our Households of Faith:  May each of these families rest in your peace and be filled with your joy. May love rule in their hearts and fill their homes.

We pray for this world,
for the places and precious people

who are striving to recover from hurricanes,

raging fire, and floods. We especially think of those suffering in B.C.

We pray for peace among nations.
Make us instruments of that peace.

We pray for our children and our youth

that they may come to know you more fully,

growing to be all of who they have been created to be.

Bless the gifts of money we offer

and bless each ministry supported whether across the street

or around the world.

Eternal God, you are our God and we are your people.

Continue to write your law of love on our hearts.

Give us an unwavering passion for justice,

and a tenacious faith that will not rest

until the hungry are fed,

until the oppressed find relief,

until the outsider finds welcome.  Amen

This Sunday is Eternity Sunday, an occasion to reflect upon the eternal reign of God and remember those who have passed on to God’s eternal love this past year.
In preparation for Sunday’s service let us join our hearts in prayer as provided by Carol Penner: :

Eternal God,
thank you for the things that do not end:
the wind swirling around the globe,
the sea rocking back and forth in its seabed,
the sun rising and setting as we spin through space.
Thank you for all the transient things we know;
the frost on the window,
the clouds in their majestic sailing beauty,
the grass that flourishes for a season and withers,
our own breath.
All this from your hands.
On this Eternity Sunday we come with grieving hearts,
for some of us are missing loved ones.
We feel the ache of love unanchored,
of words we can no longer speak,
of arms we can no longer embrace.
We turn to you in trust that you are the keeper of souls.
Hold our dear ones safe, and give to us
the assurance of life unseen, and memories that comfort.
Keep alive the love we shared, and multiply it.
Give us love for the whole earth, every part of it,
love which we cannot contain,
but which can flow through us,
in mysterious and wonderful ways.
Help us this week to be channels of your love:
where there is injury, let us bring healing,
where there is want, help us share,
where there is injustice, solidarity,
where there is despair, hope.
You hear the concerns of our community,
and we lift up especially_________
We pray all this to you, Lord of Life,
knowing that you can grant us all rest,
eternal rest. You grant us rest. Amen

Loving God, we hold in your healing presence those who suffer pain and ill-health, with their families, friends and those who care for them…

                May they know the deep peace of Christ

We hold in your healing presence those who suffer in mind and spirit, and all who care for them…

                May they know the deep peace of Christ

We hold in your healing presence those suffering due to broken relationships, we pray for the marginalized, the silenced…

                May they know the deep peace of Christ

We hold in your healing presence those struggling with isolation, anxiety, mental health challenges….

                May they know the deep peace of Christ

We hold in your healing presence those struggling to overcome addiction or abuse, those supporting and working with them, and all whose suffering has distanced them from those who love …

                May they know the deep peace of Christ

Loving God, we hold in your healing presence those facing bereavement and those who are walking through the dark valley of grief. Be especially near to families who will remember loved ones at next week’s Eternity Sunday service.

                May they know the deep peace of Christ

We hold in your healing presence and peace those whose needs are not known to us but known to you.  In silence, we name in our hearts those whose pain we carry….

May they know the deep peace of Christ

May they know the deep peace of Christ.

We also pray for our Household of Faith:

May they know the peace of Christ.

God of compassion and love, we offer you all our suffering and pain. Give us strength to bear our weakness, healing even when there is no cure, peace in the midst of turmoil and love to fill the spaces in our lives.

Glory to God from whom all love flows, glory to Jesus who showed his love through suffering, and glory to the Holy Spirit who brings light to the darkest of places.    Amen.

“Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints.” (Ephesians 6:18)

A congregational leader admits “I’m intimidated by prayer. I want it to be neat and tidy with words that make sense. But most of the time, I don’t have words.
I have a mix of feelings, or other times there’s nothing there.”
Perhaps you can relate. Or, perhaps you experience a rich prayer life.
I have been a member of a Shalom Pastor’s Group for several years and we agree, one of the members has the best prayers!

If we are to pray “at all times,” we have to allow ourselves some run-on sentences and messy thoughts.
Our whole lives are lived as a big messy prayer. Sometimes we need prayers that others write.
Sometimes we need to sit with ourselves and God in silence. And sometimes, we have to live out our prayers with our actions.
It has been said the desire to pray is itself a prayer…. and that is enough.

This Sunday in our worship we will offer prayer for the healing of creation, the healing of the nations, and pray for healing for ourselves and others.
When the needs of the world, the climate crisis, or our own needs seem too big for words, we trust that God listens to our hearts.
As God listens to our hearts, may we also listen for God. Amen

Today MCEC encourages us to pray for the Climate Summit and to pray for the Mennonite church nationwide as we discern and act together to witness to the gospel of peace for all people and all creation.
 

O Holy One, God of all creation,
galaxies, molecules, and life itself are encircled in your loving embrace.
We come to you, on behalf of your beloved earth and all its inhabitants.
We come to you with the caution of Job ringing in our ears.
“Miners put an end to darkness, and search out to the farthest bound
the ore in gloom and deep darkness.
They put their hand to the flinty rock,
and overturn mountains by the roots.
But where shall wisdom be found?”
We come to you with the warning of creation ringing in our ears.
Fire, drought, storms, rising temperatures, changes in the earth’s currents and flows,
unlike any experienced by our ancestors.
Something is wrong, with your world and with us.
And so, we pray for the political leaders gathered in Glasgow.
Allow them to hear the voices of those most vulnerable.
Give them the courage to act in ways that will make a difference.
Bring change, O God, a rushing wind of change,
a change as intimate as the desires of our hearts,
a change as big as the marketplace of nations.
May your economy come and your will be done,
on the earth, in the earth, and above the earth,
just as it already is in heaven.
Make us instruments of your peace.
Make us instruments of holy ferment.
AMEN

Gracious Lord, we dream of a world free of poverty and oppression, and we yearn for a world free of vengeance and violence. We pray for your peace.

When our hearts ache for the victims of war and oppression, help us to remember that you healed people simply by touching them. Give us faith in our ability to comfort and heal bodies and minds and spirits that have been broken by violence.

            When the injustice of this world seems too much for us to handle, help us to remember that you fed 5000 with five loaves and two fish…. that in your economy small things do great things. Give us hope and faith that what we have to offer will turn out to be enough too.

            Liberating God, when fear of the power and opinions of others tempts us not to speak up for the least among us, help us to remember that you dared to turn over the tables of money changers..  give us the courage to risk following you without counting the cost.

God with us, when we feel ourselves fill with anger at those who are violent and oppressive, help us remember that you prayed for those who killed you. Give us compassion for our enemies too.

            Companioning God, walk with us as we answer your call to be peacemakers, around the world and across the street. Increase our compassion, our generosity, our hospitality for the least of your children. Give us the courage, the patience, the serenity, self-honesty, the gentleness of spirit and hope that is needed in a world filled with need.

            God of compassion we also bring our needs for hope, healing, comfort, and peace.

            We pray for our Households of Faith:

           May God’s gifts of joy and love fill their hearts and home. May work be meaningful, relationships loving, and each day filled with blessing.

            We offer our prayers and those which we hold deep in our hearts in the name of Jesus. Amen

Greetings!
This Sunday we will celebrate Peace Sunday and focus on the theme “Defending Hope.”
Mennonite Central Committee has provided a devotional guide as we prepare to worship together.
This year’s theme involves learning from the global church. We will hear stories from MCC’s Palestinian, South Sudanese, Columbian, and Korean friends and partners. May the experience of engaging with these stories, our personal reflections, and prayers serve to strengthen our faith, our journey with Jesus, and our journey with one another.
Here’s the link:

https://mcccanada.ca/sites/mcccanada.ca/files/media/common/documents/2021peacesundaydevotional.pdf

All are welcome to join Friday prayer from 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon.
Friday Prayer began early on during the pandemic as a way to remain connected personally and through prayer. It met an important need.
Is Friday Prayer continuing to meet our needs? Perhaps you have suggestions/ideas of other ways to nurture our faith and strengthen our spiritual practices.
I welcome your feedback and your ideas.
We could also be thinking about our next book club! What are you reading that you would like to welcome others into?
This fall I read Kate Bowler’s latest book: “No Cure for Being Human and other truths I needed to hear.”
In a culture that constantly strives to improve, Kate encourages us to cut back on self-help Kool-Aid and get off the toxic positivity band wagon.
With a deep faith and spiritual wisdom, Kate writes with deep hope.
I’d love to hear what you’re reading and how it is nourishing your spirit.